It’s not easy being king — or queen. In fact, for the intrepid Key Westers competing to be named king and queen of Fantasy Fest, the island city’s outrageous October costuming and masking festival, earning their crowns involves a huge amount of hard work.
That’s because the royal campaign is far more than a popularity contest. Instead, each year since 1989, it’s been a fundraising challenge whose proceeds benefit an important part of the community. The king and queen “buy” their crowns by raising more money for a designated local nonprofit than their competitors — who round out the year’s royal court by serving as dukes and duchesses.
For more than 30 years the campaign’s beneficiary was AH Monroe, Inc. (formerly known as AIDS Help), with candidates raising more than $5 million for the organization over that period. The torch was then passed to the Florida Keys SPCA as beneficiary. Last year’s candidates earned the SPCA a grand total of $221,557.
To generate dollars for the nonprofit, aspiring royals host bingo nights, themed parties, exotic soirees, cocktail gatherings, auctions and raffles, car washes and whatever else they can dream up. Events staged by this year’s candidates — Mina Valdez and Cindy Benson for queen, and Joe Wooten and Floyd “Pepa” Jenkins for king — even include a “kitten yoga” experience and a “flamingo rodeo.”
Members of Key West’s business community enthusiastically support the annual campaign by providing venues, donating prizes and contributing services.
The Key West Cooking Show’s 291 Front St. location was the site of Mina Valdez’s Sept. 25 celebration of the island’s culture, cuisine and community. Among the event’s attractions were a traditional dominos tournament, live music, raffles and a photo booth.
The culinary hotspot will also offer “Cooking with Salt & Pepa,” a fun-filled learn-and-dine evening starring Jenkins and his husband, chef Joey Bove — affectionately nicknamed “Pepa” and “Salt.”
With “Pepa’s” assistance, “Salt” and the cooking show’s chef-storyteller Karl Stahl will share the secrets to preparing garbanzo soup, luscious lobster enchilado, guava bread pudding and other delights. Guests can observe, sip sangria and savor the featured dishes while bidding on silent auction items and vying for raffle prizes to support Jenkins’ campaign.
The delicious interactive event is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10. Reservations are required; visit https://keystix.com.
In addition to special attractions like “Cooking with Salt & Pepa,” regularly scheduled demonstration-style Key West Cooking Show experiences are offered Tuesday through Saturday. Each blends entertaining tips on how to prepare traditional regional dishes, tidbits about Key West’s history and culture, and a multi-course meal fit for a king (or queen!).
Last Bites
Dish of the week: Cuban Chickpea Soup. Like garbanzo beans, chickpeas make a satisfying base for a flavorful soup. Combine ingredients including smoked ham, Spanish chorizo, russet potatoes, chicken stock, diced vegetables and spices with mashed chickpeas for a rich and hearty concoction that will have guests begging for more.
Helpful kitchen hack: Neglected to soak dried chickpeas overnight before preparing the savory soup? Don’t worry — use canned chickpeas instead. Simply drain and rinse them and incorporate them into the recipe.
Hungry for more? Visit www.keywestcookingshow.com or call 305-294-COOK.
